Diana Gabaldon returns to her Outlander universe in “The Space Between,” an irresistible novella brimming with adventure, history, and suspense—and available for the first time as a standalone eBook. Features a preview of the much-anticipated new Outlander novel, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood!

Joan MacKimmie is on her way to Paris to take up her vocation as a nun. Yet her decision is less a matter of faith than fear, for Joan is plagued by mysterious voices that speak of the future, and by visions that mark those about to die. The sanctuary of the nunnery promises respite from these unwanted visitations . . . or so she prays. Her chaperone is Michael Murray, a young widower who, though he still mourns the death of his wife, finds himself powerfully drawn to his charge. But when the time-traveling Comte St. Germain learns of Joan’s presence in Paris, and of her link to Claire Fraser—La Dame Blanche—Murray is drawn into a battle whose stakes are not merely the life but the very soul of the Scotswoman who, without even trying, has won his heart.

Diana Gabaldon’s novella, The Space Between, takes place between books 7 and 8 in the Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood. While this story doesn’t feature Jaime and Claire Fraser, it does feature the villainous Comte St. Germaine last seen in the third book, Dragonfly in Amber, and ties itself nicely to the main series.

Like most of Gabaldon’s novellas you can really see how much she struggled to end this story. The entire book sucks you in, but per usual, the ending seemed abrupt. While the official synopsis gives the impression that this story is a love story, it isn’t. At least not yet. Joan and Michael are making an acquaintance which may grow into something more down the road. In fact, this story read like a romance origin story that could possible be spun off the original Outlander series if Gabaldon should chose to go in that direction, which I hope she does. Joan and Michael are interesting enough characters to stand off on the own apart from the main characters, and a romantic pairing between them would be welcome. Though this story does feature elements from the main series, The Space Between is distinctive enough to be read on its own without having read the other Outlander novels.

About Diana Gabaldon

Diana Gabaldon is the author of the award-winning, #1 NYT-bestselling OUTLANDER novels, described by Salon magazine as “the smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D. with a background in scripting “Scrooge McDuck” comics.”